What is a co-operative?

We throw the word around like it’s a trendy café or a startup with a conscience, but in Baltimore, David Lidz and his team at WaterBottle Co-op are proving it’s something far more radical, a way of reclaiming power from the few and putting it back in the hands of the people who actually graft. Worker-owners, not shareholders. Community control, not corporate spin. We talk about ownership, democracy, and what Baltimore can teach Britain about building from the ground up.

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They said it was just about the bins. But if you’ve ever lived on an estate, you know better — it always starts with the bins.

In this episode, I’m reporting from the streets of Birmingham, a city on its knees with a bankrupt council, a broken promise to workers, and rubbish piling up faster than excuses. I joined Unite the Union and the striking bin workers right outside the council house as they raised their voices (and a fair bit of hell) against a system that’s failing them — and us.

This isn’t just about pay. It’s about dignity. About working-class people being pushed into a Victorian underclass while the powers that be hide behind buzzwords and balance sheets. You’ll hear from the frontlines — chants, chaos, and community — and we’ll trace how Brum got here, what it means, and why this fight matters beyond the Midlands.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sitting down with Greenaway, aka The Lit Crit Guy, for a chat about his new book felt like pulling back the curtain on something we all live in but rarely name: a system so inescapable, so total, that it starts to feel like air — poisoned, pressurised, but invisible unless you stop to really look. And that’s what the book does: it doesn’t just point at late-stage capitalism and say “this is bad,” it opens the trapdoor and drags the whole thing down into the genre it belongs to. Not economics. Not politics. Horror.

Because what is capitalism if not a haunted house? A slow-burn possession? A monster that feeds off every moment of rest you almost had, and every future you thought might still be possible. Greenaway maps it all — from the daily grind to the crisis of meaning, from wage labour to the endless content churn — and makes the case that the scariest part isn’t the chaos. It’s the order. The cold, systemic, spreadsheet-shaped order that knows your worth down to the last decimal and still says, “Not enough.”

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The independent publisher that’s been shaking up the literary scene with its bold, anti-establishment ethos. From philosophy to politics, music to subcultures, Repeater has carved out a space for radical thought and unflinching creativity.

In this episode, we unpack the explosive whistleblowing that exposed the tech-capitalist ties behind the scenes, the role of AI in eroding independent publishing, and what this means for the future of leftist literature. Featuring voices from those on the front lines, we explore how corporate power is suffocating radical thought—and why the fight for Repeater and Zer0 is far from over. Free Palestine. Smash the machines. The struggle continues.

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For this weeks UK Desk, I reflect on my experiences in the UK film and creative scene and the current plight facing the industry at the moment which has left more then 70% out of work across the sector.

Can the working class artists survive this war on culture?

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And I wonder—if Dazai were alive today, would he even stand a chance? Would he be dismissed as “too bleak” for publishers? Would he be buried under a thousand AI-generated books designed to mimic his style but lacking his soul? Would an algorithm decide that his work was too risky, too unpredictable, too human?

Art, when it’s real, doesn’t follow the rules. It doesn’t obey authority. It doesn’t ask permission to exist. And maybe that’s why Dazai still resonates today—because his work is a reminder of what art is supposed to be. It’s a slap in the face to a world that wants everything to be palatable, profitable, and safe.

So maybe the real question isn’t whether Dazai would survive in today’s world. Maybe the question is—would today’s world even deserve him?

I reflect on my relationship with the work of Dazai and crucially the impact 'No Longer Human' had on my personal since Lockdown.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what can only be described as the collision of performance art, digital fame, and a deep misunderstanding of reality, I sat down with Paul Hind – the self-proclaimed Commander of the 75th century – to discuss his… unique mission?

Yes, truly the hard-hitting journalism the moment demands.

Paul, who once gained infamy as a convicted troll targeting grieving families, has somehow re-emerged as a TikTok phenomenon. Clad in futuristic gear, he patrols the streets warning us about the Trevelocks and an alien race called the Kandough. Is it satire? Is it delusion? Is it an elaborate marketing strategy for a sci-fi series no one asked for? You decide.

In the interview, we addressed his supposed mission to save humanity, his rise to viral stardom, and how the internet has made it possible for anyone – yes, anyone – to rewrite their narrative and sell it to millions. All this, while reflecting on the UK’s strange habit of elevating figures like Paul to fame, even as we face crises far more real than Kandough.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of the UK Desk for Arts Express, Jack Clarke bring a new segment to the table from his days at school; Who would win in a fight?

Get ready for the ultimate clash of worlds in this surreal, once-in-a-lifetime showdown! In one corner, the enigmatic and towering Judge Holden, straight out of Blood Meridian—a hairless, pale giant with a cold, unrelenting stare and a reputation for unmatched brutality. In the other corner, modern-day titan of industry, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and cultural phenomenon, stepping into the ring with nothing but determination and his wits.

Set in the unforgiving heat of a desolate desert, this fight pits raw, primal chaos against calculated modern ingenuity. Two wildly different eras collide in a brutal, no-holds-barred struggle for dominance. Who will stand victorious when the dust settles? The relentless embodiment of violence or the man shaping the future? Witness the most bizarre and intense match-up ever imagined!

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In what can only be described as the pinnacle of domestic drama meets geopolitical analysis, for some reason I interviewed Dr. Matthew Alford while he hoovered his stairs. 

Yes, truly groundbreaking radio. 

Matthew explains his ill-fated sanity: if humanity survived 2024 without nuking itself, he’d finally clean his stairs. Well, no mushroom clouds, just ongoing wars, genocide, and some truly grim carpet. So, we tackled the big questions: the psychology of power, military manipulation in media, and whether his Hoover is as effective at cleaning as the West is at diplomacy.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Arts Express, Jack Clarke dives into a fascinating conversation with author and pastor Russ Ramsey about the intersection of art, faith, and the human experience. From Van Gogh's yearning for beauty in the midst of struggle to the role of creativity as a modern-day form of storytelling and prayer, this episode explores how art shapes our understanding of life and spirituality. Along the way, Jack and Russ examine how artists throughout history have navigated suffering, hope, and redemption, offering lessons that are still profoundly relevant in today’s fast-paced and often disconnected world.

Russ’s latest book, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive, is a heartfelt exploration of the stories behind some of history’s most compelling artists. In this deeply insightful work, Russ reflects on how their lives and creations mirror our own struggles and aspirations, offering a fresh perspective on how art can teach us to see beauty even in brokenness.

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On this episode of Arts Express, we welcome the multitalented April Brucker, ventriloquist, comedienne, and author, alongside her outspoken puppet May Wilson. Known for her unique humor and unforgettable television appearances—including her cult-classic episode on My Strange Addiction—April discusses her bold new holiday single, "Merry Christmas, I'm So Glad I Didn't Marry You," the art and history of ventriloquism, and the challenges of performing post-COVID and post-strike. 

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On this episode of Arts Express, UK Desk host Jack Clarke asked historian Greg Eghigian why UFOs have remained such a resilient and captivating phenomenon in global culture—and what that tells us about our beliefs, our anxieties, and even our politics.

Greg’s new book, After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon, explores these questions and more. From shifting academic attitudes to the fascinating ways UFOs have mirrored specific moments in history, we cover it all.

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On this week’s segment of the UK Desk for Arts Express, join Jack Clarke for a deep dive into the provocative world of Yukio Mishima, one of Japan’s most enigmatic and controversial literary figures. We’ll explore his seminal novel Confessions of a Mask, unpacking its haunting portrayal of identity, desire, and alienation, all while tracing its chilling connections to the rise of fascist aesthetics and the existential nihilism of Emil Cioran.

But that’s not all—Mishima’s declaration that “We live in an age in which there is no heroic death” serves as a launchpad for a searing critique of 21st-century digital capitalism, techno-feudalism, and the spiritual void of our time. How does this connect to Buddhism’s concept of the hungry ghost? And what might Mishima have thought about the rise of artificial intelligence and the disintegration of self in the digital age?

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Arts Express, UK Desk host Jack Clarke welcomes Sam Cullis, the driving force behind the newly rebranded London Breeze Film Festival. With years of championing emerging talent, Sam dives into the festival’s evolution from its humble beginnings as Barnes Film Festival to its current status as a BIFA-qualifying powerhouse. He discusses the real challenges of running a film festival that balances artistic passion and financial realities, debunking myths and giving a candid look at what it really takes to survive in the festival circuit today.

We’ll explore everything from the role of community in shaping a festival’s identity to the influence of AI on future programming.

https://filmfreeway.com/londonbreeze

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